Beneath One of the Darkest Skies in Europe – Chasing the Milky Way in Teide National Park

Some trips stay with you long after you return home. My June vacation on Tenerife was definitely one of them.

While most visitors come to the island for its beaches and sunshine, I had a different goal. I wanted to experience one of Europe's finest night skies and photograph the Milky Way above the volcanic landscapes of Teide National Park.

At more than 2,000 meters above sea level, with exceptionally dry air and strict regulations limiting light pollution, Teide offers almost perfect conditions for astrophotography. Standing there under a sky filled with thousands of stars, it is easy to understand why so many professional observatories are located on the island.

Minas de San José

One of my favorite locations was Minas de San José. The barren volcanic terrain almost looks like another planet. The colorful dust lanes of the Milky Way stretching above the dark lava fields created an incredible contrast that is difficult to describe with words.

The silence was absolute. Only the camera shutter broke the stillness every few minutes.

Roque del García

Another unforgettable spot was Roque del García, famous for its spectacular volcanic rock formations.

Photographing the Galactic Core rising behind these ancient rocks was one of the highlights of the trip. Every composition looked different depending on how the Milky Way aligned with the landscape, making it impossible to stop after just one image.

Near the Teide Observatory

I also spent several hours near the Teide Observatory, where the famous Tajinaste Rojo (Echium wildpretii) was in full bloom.

These spectacular red flower spikes can grow over two meters tall and bloom only for a short period each year. Seeing them illuminated beneath the Milky Way was one of those magical moments that make all the planning worthwhile.

More Than Just Astrophotography

Although the Milky Way was the main subject, I wanted each photograph to tell a story about the landscape itself.

The volcanic rocks, twisted shrubs, lava fields and unique endemic plants are just as important as the stars above them. They create the foreground that transforms a simple night sky into an image with depth and atmosphere.

Many of these exposures were taken late at night or in the early hours of the morning. Despite the cold mountain air and long hours of hiking with heavy equipment, every minute was worth it.

Technical Notes

All images were captured straight from tripod, then stacked exposures to maximize detail while keeping noise under control. Processing focused on preserving the natural appearance of the sky and accurately representing the rich colors of the Milky Way without overdoing saturation.

Looking back through these photographs brings back the feeling of standing beneath an endless sky, surrounded by volcanic silence, watching our galaxy slowly move across the heavens.

Teide National Park is truly one of the best places I have ever visited for night photography, and I already know I will return one day.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this small collection from my June adventure on Tenerife.

Clear skies!

Camera: Sony a7RII
Lens: Viltrox 16mm f1.8 stopped to f2.2
Processing: Sequator + Photoshop
Location: Teide National Park, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Spots photographed: Minas de San José, Roque del García, surroundings of the Teide Observatory, Tajinaste fields and nearby volcanic landscapes.

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